Vacuum cleaner base assembly

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner base assembly includes a housing and a motor having a driveshaft. The motor is mounted in the housing and a brush is rotatably mounted in the housing in a spaced manner from the motor. An endless belt is looped over the driveshaft and the brush, and extends therebetween. A motor holding bracket is mounted to the housing. The motor holding bracket has a finger which resiliently urges the motor away from the brush, increasing a distance between the driveshaft and the brush, thereby tensioning the belt.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:  
     
       1. A vacuum cleaner base assembly, comprising: 
       a housing;  
       a motor having a driveshaft, mounted in said housing;  
       a brush rotatably mounted in said housing in a spaced manner from said motor;  
       an endless belt looped over the driveshaft and the brush, and extending therebetween; and  
       a motor holding bracket mounted to said housing, said motor holding bracket comprising a finger which resiliently urges the motor away from the brush, increasing a distance between the driveshaft and the brush, thereby tensioning the belt.  
     
     
       2. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor holding bracket surrounds a portion of a circumference of the motor. 
     
     
       3. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor holding bracket further comprises a base portion to which said finger is secured, wherein said base portion has an inner surface that encircles at least a portion of an outer surface of the motor. 
     
     
       4. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said bracket finger has a smaller diameter than said bracket base portion to provide a desired level of tension in the endless belt. 
     
     
       5. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor holding bracket comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
       6. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor holding bracket further comprises at least one tab for mounting the bracket to the housing. 
     
     
       7. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor holding bracket further comprises at least one flange for mounting the bracket to the housing. 
     
     
       8. A vacuum cleaner base assembly, comprising: 
       a housing including a distal end and a proximal end;  
       a brush rotatably mounted to the housing near the proximal end thereof;  
       a motor including a driveshaft extending therefrom, the motor affixed to the housing between the brush and the housing distal end;  
       an endless belt looped over the driveshaft and the brush, and extending therebetween; and  
       a motor holding bracket, comprising a resilient portion which urges the motor towards the distal end of the housing, increasing a distance between the drive shaft and the brush, thereby creating tension in the endless belt.  
     
     
       9. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the motor holding bracket is surroundingly disposed about at least a portion of the motor. 
     
     
       10. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the motor holding bracket further comprises a base portion to which said resilient portion is secured, wherein said base portion has an inner surface which encircles at least a portion of an outer surface of the motor. 
     
     
       11. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said bracket is semicircular in shape and wherein said bracket resilient portion has a smaller diameter than said bracket base portion to provide a desired level of tension in the endless belt. 
     
     
       12. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the motor holding bracket comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
       13. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the motor holding bracket further comprises at least one tab for mounting the bracket to the housing. 
     
     
       14. The vacuum cleaner base assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the motor holding bracket further comprises at least one flange for mounting the bracket to the housing. 
     
     
       15. A vacuum cleaner base, comprising: 
       a housing for the vacuum cleaner, said housing comprising an indentation;  
       a motor having a first portion held in said indentation; and  
       a bracket mounted to said housing and encircling a second portion of the motor, wherein said bracket comprises a resilient portion which urges said motor in one direction in relation to said housing.  
     
     
       16. The vacuum cleaner base of  claim 15 , wherein the housing indentation and the bracket cooperate to surround the motor. 
     
     
       17. The vacuum cleaner base of  claim 15 , wherein the bracket further comprises a base portion to which said resilient portion is secured. 
     
     
       18. The vacuum cleaner base of  claim 17 , wherein said bracket is semicircular in shape and wherein said bracket resilient portion has a smaller diameter than said bracket base portion to urge said motor in said one direction. 
     
     
       19. The vacuum cleaner base of  claim 15 , wherein the bracket comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
       20. The vacuum cleaner base of  claim 15 , wherein the bracket further comprises at least one tab for insertion into an aperture in the housing, the tab located along a first edge of the bracket. 
     
     
       21. The vacuum cleaner base of  claim 20 , wherein the bracket further comprises a flange adapted for overlying a portion of the housing, the flange being located along a second edge of the bracket. 
     
     
       22. The vacuum cleaner base of  claim 21 , wherein the second edge of the bracket defines at least one orifice. 
     
     
       23. The vacuum cleaner base of  claim 22 , further comprising a fastener extending through said orifice to secure the bracket to the housing.